Erskine Parish Church (Former), 9, High Street, Langholm

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Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved. © Copyright and database right 2024.

General Details and Location

Category
AT RISK
Name of Building
Erskine Parish Church (Former)
Other Name(s)
North United Presbyterian Church (Former)
Address
9, High Street, Langholm
Locality
Postcode
Planning Authority
Divisional Area
Reference No
1366
Listing Category
B
OS Grid Ref
NY 36372 84681
Location Type
Small Town
HS Reference No
37117

Description

Gothic church with square tower and broach spire. Coursed stugged ashlar with polished dressings, buttresses, strings and hood-moulds. Rectangular-plan, main gabled (W) elevation to High Street. Arcaded triple doorway in nave with flanking columns, doors deeply recessed and with cusped heads; tall window above with cusped tracery; aisles shallow recessed, left (N) aisle treated as tower bottom stage, unusually tall 2nd tower stage with elongated 2-light window with rose above to elevations. Lucarned stone spire. Skews with gableted skewputts; continuous slated roof. Pointed lights to flanks. (Historic Scotland)
Building Dates
Dated 1867
Architects
Robert Baldie of Glasgow

Category of Risk and Development History

Condition
Fair
Category of Risk
Low
Exemptions to State of Risk
Field Visits
August 1995, June 2000, 19/04/2011, 11/6/2014
Development History
5 January 1995: The Eskdale Advertiser reports that Councillors are prepating to serve a Repairs Notice on the property, which is currently in the ownership of Texan Dr Herman Plattner. It has now stood empty for 3 years and a recent survey has revealed extensive patches of dry rot. The gutters, drains and tower stonework also require attention. Solway Heritage has undertaken to purchase the church from Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council should compulsory purchase follow. The Clan Armstrong Trust has expressed an interest in converting the church into a Clan Centre in collaboration with Solway Heritage. 12 January 1995: The Southern Reporter repeats the story. 13 January 1995: The Annandale Observer reports that a meeting room to the rear of the church was demolished in the past due to its deteriorating condition. 11 May 1995: The Eskdale Advertiser reports that the owner has failed to respond to the Repairs Notice. Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council's Economic Development Department is supporting plans to convert the church into a Clan Centre and is recommending that the Council funds a feasibility study. 12 May 1995: The Annandale Observer repeats the story. 14 June 1995: The Dumfries and Galloway Standard reports that the owner is now prepared to negotiate the sale of the church to the Regional Council. 16 January 1996: The Eskdale Advertiser reports that the church is now owned by Solway Heritage who are now undertaking a survey of the building to assess the need for repairs. November 1997: Permissions are sought for alterations to form a visitors' centre. The tower finial has been recently removed. 13 February 1998: The Dumfries and Galloway Standard reports that the Clan Armstrong Trust has been granted permissions to convert the church into a visitors' centre. However, there are concerns over whether the project will actually progress due to cost. 2 April 1998: The Eskdale Advertiser reports that the Clan Armstrong Trust has pulled out of the project and Solway Heritage is asking local residents for their ideas on the future of the church. 8 April 1999: The Eskdale Advertiser reports that Solway Heritage now plans to convert the church into an internet café and cinema. The plans have received the support of the Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk Community Council. A new 2 storey office block would provide offices for the Langholm and Eskdale Initiative. June 2000: External inspection reveals the windows to be boarded up and the church to be in good condition. 18 August 2000: The Annandale Observer reports on the plans for an ICT/distance learning centre and cinema. December 2003: The Annual Report of the Architectural Heritage Fund 2002-2003 reports that Solway Heritage is now conducting a feasibility study. July 2005: Much interest in the church by potential restoring purchaser. August 2005: Eskdale and liddesdale Advertiser carries a letter from potential restoring purchaser who maintains that she has been looking into the redevelopment of the church for over a year. However due to the length of time taken without a definitive decision being taken on the future of the church she has now decided to look elsewhere for a builidng to redevelop. April 2006: Owners report building now available for possible sale or lease.
September 2007: Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser reports that the church is now for sale through Smiths Gore as a potential private residence.
October 2009: Annandale Observer reports that the planning committee has given conditional approval for an application for redevelopment of the church into 4 flats. Esdale & Liddesdale Advertiser repeats the story.
September 2010: A member of the public contacts SCT to advise the property has now been sold and is no longer available for sale.
April 2011: External inspection finds windows boarded up and there is scaffolding around the top of the spire. There is no outward sign that work is being undertaken.
December 2011: The church is currently being advertised for sale through agents Smith Gore, offers over £44,000.
27 May 2013: The property is being marketed for sale through auctions at Future Property Auctions with a guide price of £45,000 +.
7 June 2013: The property remains under marketing for sale through Wilson's Auctions. Guide price now £37500.
28 June 2013: A member of the public advises the property is due to be sold to new owners at the end of June.
6 June 2014: A member of the public advises the sale of the property concluded in in Aug 2013.
11 June 2014: External inspection finds the roof of the main hall has been netted, otherwise the building remains in much the same condition as seen previously.
17 June 2015: The property is being marketed for sale through auction by Future Property Auctions at a guide price of £27,000.
18 September 2020: The property remains under marketing for sale through auction.
14 May 2021: The At-Risk Service is advised by HES colleagues of local concern for the deteriorating condition of the property, notably of the spire and the now aging protective scaffolding, installed around 17 years ago. The property is advised as having been purchased around 6 months ago, sold to a new owner earlier this month but returned to sale, through the same auction house, with immediate effect.
3 August 2021: HES Planning Advice and Consents team advises Dumfries and Galloway Council has applied a Dangerous Building Notice (21/00006/DB) to the property requiring remedial action to loose and dangerous masonry and slates, and to the deteriorated protective scaffolding surrounding the spire.
1 September 2021: The property is being marketed for sale through Future Property Auctions. A guide price of £31,000 has been set.
15 September 2023: Listed Building Consents (23/1567/LBC) for the removal of church spire, formation of pyramidal roof and associated works are being sought. (22/08/2023)

Guides to Development

Conservation Area
Planning Authority Contact
PAC Telephone Number

Availability

Current Availability
Not Available
Appointed Agents
Price
Occupancy
Vacant
Occupancy Type
N/A
Present/Former Uses
Building Uses Information:
Present Use 1: N/A Former Use 1: Church/Convent/Monastery
Present Use 2: N/A Former Use 2: N/A
Name of Owners
Unverified see FAQ on ascertaining ownership
Type of Ownership
Private

Information Services

Additional Contacts/Information Source
Bibliography
Gifford (1996), p401; Hume (2000), p89; Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser, 2 May 1866 and 12 June 1867.
Online Resources
Classification
Churches and Chapels
Original Entry Date
28-JUN-95
Date of Last Edit
17/01/2022